Combined grease pump and reservoir



Sept. 30, 1952 T. A. CAMPBELL ET AL COMBINED GREASE PUMP AND RESERVOIR Filed March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l en 1952 T. A. CAMPBELL ET AL 2,612,296

,COMBINED GREASE PUMP AND RESERVOIR Filed March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V P 0, 1952 T. A. CAMPBELL ET AL 2,612,296

COMBINED GREASE PUMP AND RESERVOIR Filed March 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 stroke of the plunger 58 at a position in which its lower end has uncovered the ports 56.

In a grease gun of this type it is usual to provide a piston or follower for the quantity of grease in the barrel in to prevent the suction produced in the cylinder 40 from drawing air through the grease when the barrel is partially empty. In the present structure the follower is in the form of a piston 10, preferably of synthetic rubber or like material, having a short flange 12 extending toward the end of the barrel. which contains the high pressure cylinder, and

the longer flange 14 extending in the oppositedie rection. An eccentrically disposed lug 16 has at tached to it a chain T8 with a, terminal ring 80 so' that when the charge of grease in the barrel ll] is substantially exhausted and the follower '10 der 40,-the follower can be readily returned to has been drawn by the suction toward the end f of the barrel containing the high pressure cylinv the outer end of the barrel It] by removing the cap 12 and pulling on the chain 18. Owing to the eccentric position of the lug 16 the pull on the chain will operate to tip the follower H3 out of its normal position perpendicular to the axis of the barrel and will thus break its sealing relation to the barrel so as to facilitate its removal and replacement in the outer end portion of the barel ID.- This may be done after the new charge of grease has been introduced through the end of the barrel uncovered by removal of the cap 12 or the barrel may be refilled through the fitting 26 after the follower 10 has been set up in the outer end thereof and the cap 12 replaced in the position shown in Fig. 1.

I It will be noted that the simple pivotal con- 1 nection between the plunger 58 and the lever 30 at 62 requires this portion of the lever to move in a straight line as the plunger is reciprocated, and the required accommodation of the fulcrum {-28 is provided by the flexibility of the arm 24 which may be somewhat increased by reducing the width of the armat 25, as seen in Fig. 2. I It also may be noted that the lever 30 and-its supporting arm 24 may be readily assembled because the curled portion 32 of the web 34 extends beyond the side flanges 35 andis slightly spaced therefrom at 31, thus permitting the curled portion 28 of the. arm 24 to be slid axially into th curled portion 32 of the lever. 'In the modified structure shown in'Fig. 3, the

barrel I0 is similar to that of Fig. 1 and the cylinder 40 and its plunger 58 also are similar to those corresponding-parts shown in-Fig. 1. The follower 10 closely resembles the follower of Fig.1

except that its flange 15 is somewhat longer than the flange .14 and its lug T! is made correspondingly longer but also is eccentrically positioned and operates in the same manner when the: chain .18 is pulled for removing the follower."

Thedesign of the lever 30a is quite similar to that of the lever 30, but the fulcrum of the lever differs somewhat from that already described. A flexible arm 84 is secured to the end wall 22 of the barrel [0 and its free end is curled in theform of an eye 86 which is looped througha; slot 30b in the web of the lever 30a and nearthe end thereof. The. extreme end portion 300 of the "lever extends diametrically within the eye 86 so that the lever is fulcrumed substantially at the.v

axis of said eye while the flexibility of the arm 84 provides the necessary accommodation for the movement of the lever when the plunger '58 is reciprocated thereby. Preferably, the upper end portion 85 of the lever is tapered-as shown in tapered. at "I 2 and i if do Lthrough'an opening in the lower side of the barrel and a slightly reduced terminal portion 84 of the tube extends through an opening in the upper side of the barrel with its shoulder $6 abuttingthe inner surface of the wall of the barrel.

We1ding -orjbrazing metal is applied externally at 91 and-98 forsecuringthe tube firmly in the barrel so that the portion Hi0 thereof within the barrel shall constitute the high pressure cylinder of the: grease gun. This portion is provided with the usual inlet ports [.02 and is fitted with a plunger, 104.connected by. a pivot pin N16 to the sideflangeslllS of the opfirating lever H0. As shown msaid. flanges may. have the areas H2 pressed-inwardly to engage opposite sides of the plunger I'M.

, The terminal portion of the web of the channel-shaped lever lid-extends beyond the side flanges 18 and is arcuately curved-at I I4 to form the fulcrum portion of the lever. The flexible supporting arm H6 which=issecured to the end wal1-9l of the barrel 90 is split inwardly from its upper end to separate the ;middle portion of the arm from the two lateral'portions I 11, H! which are left standing in the main plane of the armllfih ,IIfhe ;middle portion is subdivided into a pairoftongues; l [8-, J18 and a middle tongue 126., igs seen in li ig. ,5 the'middle tongue I20 is bent out of the plane of the arm H6 at one side of said plane and the other two tongues H8, H8 are bent in the opposite direction so that the threetonguesform -a', cradle for the arcuate ter- ,minal l4. ofthe lever; H 0. Theinwardly facing edges of the lateral portions 1, ;I [1 are notched at l2l;.t;o;engage the-lateral edges of the arcuate terminal H4 so as to retain it upon the support provided by, the tongues [18, 120. Thus when the lever ,l-i0 is actuated the arcuateportion H4 merely rides through the notches, I21 and over the-endportions-aof the tongues 'HB and I20,

vswinging'substanjviallyabout the axis of its arcuate form, and-therequired shiftingof the fulcrum incident to: the,- straight line reciprocation,

of the plunger 104.15 permitted. by the flexibility of the arm. l| 6. Incidenta11y, in this modification the cha-in "wads shownattached to the follower 10 by means of a metallic eye 70a formed with tongueswhichextendthrough the web or diaphragm p,ortion;-of sthe follower l0 and are bent over to anchor the eyetherein.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a structure in which the barrel luhasareduced end portion 20' and in .W iQh thee diw l 213. 5 formedl with a recess 23 providinga flat surface 23a against; which the flexible arm I24 is secured. The outlet tube 36 and a the high; pressure cylinder 40 are substantially like those; shown in Fig. land are similarly secured to the reduced portion 20 of the barrel |0. -'Ihe plungerfifl is pivoted at 62 to the lever :30, the side flanges I35 thereof having circular indentations 1393 which. snugly embrace the plunger. ,As'shown, :the flexible arm I24 is le thickness, being ttq te m. ane M w ts-u per. n serve asafulcrum bearing-forthepivot- 32 mounted n heMneesltifitfihellever. 3. 1 11 1 this c struction as in-those already described, the next-j bility "of the arm -'-I provides the necessary'accommodation 'o'f the "fulcrum ---"bearing"to the straight line movement of the plunger 58. f v

' customarily a'greas'e g'un-of "the type disclosed herein includes a check valve at the outlet end ofthe-hi'gh pressure "cylinder. while-such' a'val-ve could-be provided at that position-in-each o'f the structures shown in the drawings, *it' is considered preferable; in the-interest "of simplified manufacture, to embody "a simple form of :springpressed" ball check valve in the 'coupler 'ii tting' 38, and nodetailed illustration of such a valve will be required by thoseskllledintheart; l

It will be seen that the grease gun-construction herein disclosed, "together-with the several modifications thereof ast'o detail, provides for relatively economical manufacture utilizing stamped or drawn sheet metal parts wherever possible and providing-for relatively simple .assembly operations but without anysacriflcein the efiiciency of the deviceitselffor its intended purpose. -While 'we havesh'own and described herein several forms of the invention cachincludingxits principal features, fit :will be understood that the .inventionis :not limited thereto or thereby-but .may assume various other ,forms and includes ,all .modiflcations, 'variations, :and equivalents coming within the :soope of the appended "claims.

We claim:

I1. Ina.levertype.greasergunaazbarrel, a:.-unitary cylinder extendingtransverselyinithe barreln'ear one end .thereoflla plunger reciprocable Lin 1 the cylinder, .an operating lever pivoted directly to the plunger, and a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm secured to the barrel and extending laterally therefrom, said arm having a curled end portion and the lever having a curled terminal portion fitted thereto in pivotal engagement therewith.

2. In a lever type grease gun, a barrel, a unitary cylinder extending transversely in the barrel near one end thereof, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder, an operating lever pivoted directly to the plunger, and a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm secured to the barrel and extending laterally therefrom, said arm and lever being pivotally connected by means of a terminal eye on one of them engaged in a transverse slot in the other near the end thereof.

3. In a lever type grease gun, a barrel, a unitary cylinder extending transversely in the barrel near one end thereof, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder, an operating lever pivoted directly to the plunger, and a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm secured to the barrel and extending laterally therefrom, said lever having an arcuately curved terminal portion and said arm being split to form tongues curved away from the plane of the arm at both sides thereof providing a cradle for said arcuate terminal of the lever with upstanding lateral guard tongues having inwardly facing notches engaging the edges of said arcuate part to retain it on said cradle mounting in pivotal relation thereto.

4. In a lever type grease gun, a barrel, a unitary cylinder extending transversely in the barrel near one end thereof, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder, an operating lever of downwardly open channel form embracing the outer end of the plunger between its flanges andpivoted directly to said plunger, a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm of flat stock doubled upon itself to form an eye, the flat end portions of rea a a the ais wal-l j of the -being disposed between the ta e ira i '5. Ina eve nel roimemer emga outer-end df the plunger between its flanges and fpi v'o't'ed directly to said fulcrum suppert fer' said lever cemprising a flexible armse'cured-to the barrel and extending 'laterall-y therefrom into pivotal engagement with said lever, "and a stop ing-"bent inwardly from =on'e *of- "said flanges of the lever at a point between its fulcrum and its pivotal connection to the -plunger "to" abut "the plunger for limiting the outward swi g-of the'lever.

f n EafleVer-typegrease g 'barreL a -cylinder;-extending transversely 7 the barrel near one end thereof," said cylinder --bein g secured in sealed-relation with said bairrel ar swivel-ing movement about-its own axis, a -'pl-unger -reciprocablein the cylinder, an operating 'lever'p'ivoted directly to the plunger, and a fulc-rum-support for said lever comprising a flexible arm secured to "the barrel 7 and -extending "laterally therefrom into pivotalengagementwith sa-i'd lever.

'7. In a lever type greaseg-un; a' barreL a cyl inder extending transversely 'the ba'rrel near one end thereof, said cylinderjbing secured in sealed relation with-said "barrel ron -swivelingmovementabout-its 'own -axi's, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder,- an operating lever pivoted directlvto'the plunge'n'an'da ru crum support for said-- lever comprising 'a 'flex'ible a'rm of flat stock secured against the end wall of the barrel and extending laterally therefrom into pivotal engagement with said lever.

8. In a lever type grease gun, a barrel, a, cylinder, extending transversely in the barrel near one end thereof, said cylinder being secured in sealed relation with said barrel for swiveling movement about its own axis, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder, an operating lever pivoted directly to the plunger, and a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm of flat stock disposed against a fiat area of the end wall of the barrel, and a fitting having a shank adapted to extend through said arm and to be fixed in said end wall.

9. In a lever type grease gun, a barrel, a cylinder extending transversely in the barrel near one end thereof, said cylinder being secured in sealed relation with said barrel for swiveling movement about its own axis, a plunger reciprocable in the cylinder, an operating lever of downwardly open channel form embracing the outerend of the plunger between its flanges and pivoted directly to said plunger, a fulcrum support for said lever comprising a flexible arm secured to the barrel and extending laterally there-- from into pivotal engagement with said lever, and.

a stop extending between the flanges of the lever at a point between its fulcrum and its pivotal con-- nection to the plunger to abut the plunger for transversely of said barrel and having its opposite ends projecting through the side walls thereof,

means for effecting a leakproof seal between the projecting ends of the tubular body member and the barrel adapting said body member for swiveling movement upon anaxis transverse to the lever with-a u crum-pinextending I r-typegrease gu-nga -barrel, a-cylindereextendingtransversely in'the barrel near-cne barrel, said tubular-body member forming a pump cylinder epen at one end and having an inlet within thebarreland terminating adjacent the other end in an outlet, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder through the open end thereof, and a rigid'delivery tube means extending radially from the outletend of said tubular body member.

11. In a, grease gun, a barrel forming a lubricant reservoir, a tubular body member having a I reduced portion adapted to extend through diametrically opposed apertures in the side wall of said barrel and terminating in a threaded outer end and a. shoulder adj acent the opposite end, said tubular body member iorming a pump cylinder having an inlet within the barrel and an outlet in said shouldered end, means for securing said tubular body member with respect to said barrel including lock nut means adapted to be engaged upon said threaded tip and sealing and gasket washer mean adapted to be interposed between said shoulder andthe wall of said barrel at one of said apertures andsaid lock nut'means and the Wall of said barrel atthe other of said apertures for effecting a fluidtight seal between said barrel and tubular body member when said lock nut means is tightened adapting said tubular body member for swiveling -movement upon an -axis transverse .to thebarrel and a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder and adapted to project from the open end thereof; 7 l

12. In a grease gun, a barrel forming a lubricant reservoir, atubular body member having a reduced portion adapted to extend through dia metrically opposed apertures in the side walls of said barrel and terminating in a threaded outer end and a shoulder adjacent the opposite end,

said tubular body memberforming a pump cylinder having aninlet Within the barrel and an outlet in-said shouldered end, means for securing said tubular body member with respect to said barrel including locknut means adapted-to be engagedupon said threaded tip, and sealing and gasket washerflmeans adapted to be interposed between said shoulderand thewall of said barrel at oneof said apertures and said lock nut means and thejwall of said barrel at the other of said apertures for effecting a fluidtight seal between said barrel-and tubular body member when said lock nut means is tightened, and a plunger reciprocablein said cylinder and adapted to pr ject from the open endthereof.

, 'ITI-IOMAS ARTHUR CAMPBELL.

MARK HARRIS.

V REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record inthe file of this patent] UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,409,619 Fitch Oct. 22, 1946 

